Hello, N2K’ers!

Vote for this week’s big winner in our News Haiku™ competition in the poll below. Some absolutely fantastic entries this week, thank you. I’m so excited to see which entry takes the prize!

Now, let’s talk about the news you Need2Know?

—Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor

News You Need2Know

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Trump’s pick to lead jobs bureau has some ideas

President Trump’s nomination of EJ Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has sparked fierce debate, especially after Antoni proposed suspending the agency’s monthly jobs report. In an interview with Fox News, the conservative economist called the widely-referenced report "unreliable" and suggested focusing on less frequent, quarterly data instead.

“It’s a serious problem that needs to be fixed immediately,” Antoni argued, adding, “Until it is corrected, the BLS should suspend issuing the monthly job reports.”

Here’s EJ Antoni with the president in the Oval Office:

Trump nominated Antoni, an economist at the rightwing Heritage Foundation — the think-tank behind the Project 2025 blueprint for Trump’s second term — to the BLS job on Monday. Since then, even conservatives have been skeptical of the choice.

“The hope was that he would pick someone . . . who people would have trust in and could lead the BLS in an appropriate way, with relevant experience and, ideally, not hyper-partisan,” Stan Veuger, senior fellow at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute think-tank told the Financial Times. “EJ Antoni is really the opposite of that.” “Even the people who may be somewhat sympathetic to his economic policy views don’t think he’s qualified,” added Veuger.

The jobs data issued by the BLS is critical for policymakers, investors, and citizens to understand trends in employment, inflation, and economic health. Critics worry that halting the reports would undermine the agency’s mission. Senator Patty Murray, a top Democrat, did not mince words when she called Antoni a "partisan hack" and claimed his appointment would “shred the integrity of our nation's best economic and jobs data.” She warned that under Antoni, BLS data could become “make-believe.”

The nomination follows Trump’s firing of former BLS commissioner Erika McEntarfer after the agency reported a slowdown in job growth. Trump accused McEntarfer of “rigging” the numbers — a claim dismissed by many economists.

Jessica Riedl, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, criticized Antoni’s past economic commentaries as “probably the most error-filled of any think tank economist right now.” Another Republican-affiliated economist said a vote to confirm Antoni would be akin to "eviscerating the BLS and its jobs data."

Song of the day: Chris Staples, ‘Familiar Kind of Blue’

Chris Staples’ new album “Don’t Worry” is receiving positive reviews for its introspective Americana style, minimalist approach, and personal, poetic lyrics. Critics highlight the album's warmth, soothing sounds, and its ability to explore both triumphs and regrets with an uplifting perspective on acceptance. Here are the lyrics to the chorus of this single:

Maybe I'll keep this to myself this time
I got a twelve lane highway
Running through my mind
Maybe I keep it to myself this time
I gotta find a quiet corner
In my mind

Evocative, eh?